People

Viviana Maggioni

 

Dr. Viviana Maggioni is Associate Professor of Environmental and Water Resources Engineering at George Mason University. She is currently serving as the Director of Undergraduate Affairs for theSid and Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering. Her research interests lie at the intersection of hydrology and remote sensing. In particular, she is interested in the application of remote sensing techniques to estimate and monitor hydrological variables. Her work has direct applications in water resources management, weather and climate prediction, as well as agriculture and irrigation practices. She served as Chair of the AGU Precipitation Committee and one of the two current IPWG co-Chairs. She currently serves as Editor of the Journal of Hydrometeorology, and Associate Editor of the Journal of Hydrology and Frontiers in Climate - Climate Services

Email: vmaggion@gmu.edu

Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 2012

M.S. Environmental Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy, 2006

B.S. Environmental Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy, 2003

 

STUDENTS  

Malihe Nasibi

Ph.D. Student

M.S.  Water Resources Engineering, Power and Water University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, 2013.

B.S. Civil Engineering, Shahid Rajaee University, Tehran, Iran, 2008.

Research interests: Water resources engineering, hydrologic modelling, Satellited-based remote sensing, extreme precipitation, flood forecasting.

Janani Kandasamy

Ph.D. Student

M.E.  Irrigation Water Management, Anna University, Chennai, India, 2013

B.E. Civil Engineering, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathy, India, 2011

Research interests: Improving productivity of irrigated agriculture, soil agronomy, irrigation water management using remote sensing and hydrology.

Ridwana Binte Sharif

Ph.D. Student

M.S. Civil Engineering, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA, 2019

B.S. Water Resources Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2017

Research interests: Computational modeling informed by remote sensing, climate change impacts on hydrological processes

Soelem Aafnan Bhuiyan

Ph.D. Student

M.S. Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2021
 
B.S. Water Resources Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2016
 
Research Interests:  Hydrology and hydrologic cycle, Hydrologic modeling, Impacts of climate change on extreme hydrologic events, Applications of remote sensing in water resources engineering, Environmental policy and management, Climate change adaptation.

 

FORMER POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWS

 

Yuan Xue

 

Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2017

M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2014

B.S. Hydropower Engineering and Water Conservancy, Hohai University, Nanjing, China, 2012

Research interests: Satellite-based remote sensing, machine-learning applications in the cryosphere, data assimilation, snow hydrology

Current position: Physical Scientist at NOAA/NWP/EMC

Azbina Rahman

Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2021

M.S. Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2018

B.S. Water Resources Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2014

Research interests: Land data assimilation systems, land surface modeling, dynamic vegetation modeling

Current position: Postodoctoral Research Fellow at University of Maryland

Xinxuan Zhang

Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 2018

M.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 2012

B.S. Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China, 2007

Research interests: Land surface modeling and data assimilation systems, numerical modeling and remote sensing of precipitation, extreme weather event forecasting

Current position: Research Assistant Professor at University of Connecticut

Yiwen Mei

Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 2017

M.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 2012

B.ENG. Environmental Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China, 2010

Research interests: Surface flux, snow/ice storage, and water balance changes in High Mountain Asia, hydrologic modeling, remote sensing. Yiwen is also Associate Editor of the Journal of Hydrology.

GitHub: https://github.com/YiwenMei

Current position: Assistant Director of Research for the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA)

Abheera Hazra

Ph.D. Climate Dynamics (Applied Physics), George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2013

M.S. Physics, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, India, 2007

B.S. Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, India, 2005

Research interests: Drought prediction in areas with limited in-situ observations, improving model simulation of earth hydrology and climate using land-surface and atmospheric models, prediction of extreme precipitation, tropical intraseasonal variability.

Current position: Postdoctoral Associate at ESSIC/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

Aline Falck

Ph.D. in Meteorology, Brazilian National Institute for Space Research, São José dos Campos, Brazil, 2015

M.S. in Meteorology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil, 2009  

B.S. in Meteorology, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil, 2007

Research interests: Weather radars, satellite precipitation products, ensemble prediction systems, stochastic models, and hydrological models.

Current position: Researcher at the Brazilian National Center for Natural Disaster Monitoring and Warning (CEMADEN), focusing on the development of flood prediction systems.

 

FORMER STUDENTS

 

Ishrat Jahan Dollan

Ph.D. Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2023

M.S. Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2020

B.S. Water Resources Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2015

Research interests: precipitation patterns, extreme rainfall events, hydroclimatic risk, climate change impacts on hydrological processes, machine-learning for hydrologic applications, community resilience to climate change.

Current position: Postodoctoral Associate at Stony Brook University

Jeremy Johnston

Ph.D. Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2022

M.S. Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2019

B.S. Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering (with Minor in Environmental Science), George Mason University (Honors College), Fairfax, VA, 2017

Email: jjohns60@masonlive.gmu.edu

Research interests: Global hydrology, water and energy balances, weather and climate, freezing and thawing processes, satellite remote sensing, ground based field data collection/sensors, and applications of UAV technology to acquiring high resolution remote sensing imagery (i.e. thermal and vegetation). Jeremy's goal is to help extend human understanding and observation of large- and small-scale processes in order to apply this knowledge towards developing solutions to global environmental challenges.

Current position: Postodoctoral Research Fellow at University of New Hampshire

Maryam Zavareh

Ph.D. Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2021

M.S. Civil Engineering with Concentration in Environmental Engineering, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, NC

B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

Research interests: Surface water quality analysis, rough set theory, environmental impact of hydroelectric projects

Current position: Environmental Engineer at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.

Jennifer Solakian

Ph.D. Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2020

M.S. Environmental Management, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2005

B.S. Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Balcksburg, VA, 2001

Research interests: Hydrologic and water quality modeling, remote sensing of precipitation

Current position: Water Resources Engineer at AECOM

Tasnuva Rouf

Ph.D. Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2020

M.S. Water Resources Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2015

B.S. Water Resources Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2012

Research interests: Hydrology and hydraulics, land surface modeling, data assimilation, remote sensing applications

Current position: Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Sana Khan

Ph.D. Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2019

M.S. Environmental Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan, 2007

B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, Pakistan, 2005 

Research interests: Uncertainty analysis, remote sensing of precipitation, water and waste water management, green building design and operations, sustainable infrastructures

Current position: Senior Technical Advisor Data Science-Climate at The Palladium Group

Leonardo Porcacchia

Ph.D. Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2018

M.S. Physics of Atmospehre and Meteorology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy,  2013

B.S. Physics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy, 2009

Research interests: Atmospheric remote sensing (satellite, radar, lidar), weather radars, cloud microphysics, precipitation, meteorology, machine learning

Current position: Research Associate at the University of Amsterdam, Netherlands

Ingrid Davis-Colato

M.S. Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2019

B.S. Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2016

Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 Receipient of the Mason Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP); Project: The benefits of integrating rainwater harvesting systems for domestic use in houses and in commercial building in United States (California) and in developing countries (El Salvador)

 https://studentsasscholarsgmu.blogspot.com/2015/11/ursp-student-highlights-ingrid-davis.html

Research interests: Rainwater harvesting systems, rain water filter design

Current position: Civil Associate II - Surface Water at Michael Baker International

Margie Noonan

M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2019

B.S. Landscape Architecture, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 2010

Research interests: Hydrologic modeling, satellite soil moisture observations, stormwater management, sustainable design

Current position: Environmental Engineer at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.

Alia Gholoom

M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2018

B.S. Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2016

Research interests: Green infrastructure, solar energy, green roof design, stormwater runoff reduction

Current position: Water Resources Engineer at RK&K

Aneela Mousam

M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2016

B.S. Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Balcksburg, VA, 2013

Research interests: Climate variability, malaria, remote sensing and modeling, GIS 

Current position: Environmental Engineer at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.

Giorgio Barchitta

Undergraduate student in the Civil, Environmental, & Infrastructure Engineering B.S. program, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, Expected Spring 2020

Research interests: Water runoff reduction, water quality improvement, green roof efficiency, green infrastructure

Renee Nmair

Summer 2015 Receipient of the Mason Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP); Project: Stormwater in HD - Monitoring water quality at the George Mason University Fairfax campus

M.S. Civil and Infrastructure Engineering (Concentration in Geotechnical Engineering), George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2018

B.S. Civil and Infrastructure Engineering with Honors, George Mason University, 2016

Research interests: Real-time impacts of hydrological events on water quality

Current position: Construction Manager

Monique Robinson

2015 Summer Internship at the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites at the University of Maryland (CICS-MD), co-advised with Mr. Meyers

B.S. Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2018

B.A. Journalism, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 2018

Research interests: Broadcast meteorology

Current position: Meteorologist/reporter at WWAY in Wilmington, NC (Monique covered Hurricane Florence directly!)

Personal Professional Websitehttps://www.facebook.com/moniquedrobinsontv/?ref=bookmarks

Rebecca Brenneis

Fall 2014 Receipient of the Mason Undergraduate Research Scholars Program (URSP); Project: Investigating the relationship between satellite precipitation data and desert locust swarm behavior in Saharan Africa

M.S. Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 2018

B.S. Earth Science with a minor in Environmental Engineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 2015

Research interests: groundwater remediation of chlorinated solvents, environmental impacts of natural gas extraction, formation mechanisms of trihalomethanes in hydraulic fracturing fluid, catalytic techniques to convert fugitive methane to climate inert products.

Current position: PhD student, MIT, Cambridge, MA

 

 

VISITING SCHOLARS

 

Christian Massari

Visiting Research Scholar, Fall 2018

Ph.D. Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy, 2012

M.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy, 2008

B.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy, 2006

Research interests: Data assimilation of remote sensing information in hydraulic and hydrological models, rainfall and soil moisture spatial distribution analysis, innovative techniques for rainfall estimation, supply pipe system diagnosis for the reduction of energy and water waste, flood forecasting through altimeter and optical sensors,  landslides alert and drought monitoring through remote sensing data.

Current position: Researcher at the Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection of the National Research Council, Perugia, Italy

Rômulo Augusto Jucá Oliveira

 

Visiting Research Graduate Assistant, 2015/2016

Ph.D. Meteorology, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, Brazil, 2017

M.S. Meteorology, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos, Brazil, 2011

B.S. Meteorology, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil, 2008

Research interests: Satellite and radar Quantitative Precipitation Estimation (QPE), uncertainty quantification and validation of rainfall retrievals for several applications, such as hydrologic, nowcasting, and climate studies

Current position: Research Engineer at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Toulouse, France.